Cleaning Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus includes a sheet of deformable material in the shape of a cylindrical shell segment when in a rest state, and a handle coupled to an outer surface of the sheet to apply a physical force to cause the shape of the sheet to transform to a contoured shape of a surface against which the sheet is pressed. An edge of the sheet may be curled to help guide the sheet over obstacles/contours. The handle may be connected to the sheet with a TU-type connector or a universal joint connector. The sheet may include, without limitation, a plastic, polypropylene, and/or low-density polyethylene (LDPE). The handle and/or connector may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The sheet may have a shape of a right cylindrical shell segment when in the rest state or an oblique cylindrical shell segment when in the rest state.

BACKGROUND

A conventional cleaning mop includes a soft cleaning material attached to a rigid mop head. This may be suitable for cleaning relatively flat surfaces, but it is not suitable for contoured surfaces.

What is needed is a cleaning mop that can accommodate contoured surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus that includes a cleaning head, a handle, and a connector to connect the handle to the cleaning head, in a rest state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1 in a contoured state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another cleaning apparatus in which a sheet of deformable material includes curled edges, which may help the sheet to glide over a contoured feature and assume a contoured shape of a surface against which it is pressed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another cleaning apparatus, in which a sheet of deformable material is illustrated in a rest state in which the sheet has a shape of an oblique cylindrical shell segment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another cleaning apparatus that includes a TU-type connector to connect a handle to a sheet of deformable material.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another cleaning apparatus that includes a universal joint connector to connect a handle to a sheet of deformable material.

In the drawings, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus 100. Cleaning apparatus 100 includes a cleaning head 102, a handle 104, and a connector 106 to connect handle 104 to cleaning head 102.

Cleaning head 102 includes a sheet 110 of a deformable material (e.g., a plastic). In FIG. 1 , sheet 110 is illustrated in a first state, also referred to herein as a rest state. In the rest state, sheet 110 has a shape of a cylindrical shell segment. Sheet 110 may include a relatively low strength-to-density ratio such as, for example and without limitation, polypropylene (PP) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Sheet 110 may have a thickness 112 of, for example and without limitation, 0.1 inches.

In the example of FIG. 1 , connector 104 is attached to an outer surface 114 of sheet 110, and handle 106 may be used to apply a physical force to sheet 110 in a direction of arrow 116 to cause sheet 110 to transform or deform from the rest to a contoured shape of a surface against which an inner surface 118 of sheet 110 is pressed.

Connector 102 and/or handle 106 may include, for example and without limitation, aluminum and/or plastic. Connector 102 and/or handle 106 may include a material having a relative high strength-to-density ratio such as, for example and without limitation, high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

Connector 104 may be configured to permit handle 106 to rotate about connector within a single plane, such as with a TU-type connector, or within multiple planes, such as with a universal joint.

Cleaning apparatus 100 may include a sheet of cleaning material removably attachable to inner surface 118 of sheet 110. The sheet of cleaning material may include, without limitation, an absorbent material, such as a sheet of cloth/fabric and/or a sponge-like material.

Cleaning apparatus 100 may further include a fastener layer to releasable attach the sheet of cleaning material to inner surface 108. The fastener layer may include, for example and without limitation, hook-and-loop fasteners. In this example, surface 118 may include hooks and the sheet of cleaning material may include loops. Alternatively, surface 118 may include loops and the sheet of cleaning and/or padding material may include hooks. In an embodiment, the fastener layer may include a sticky glue-like substance.

Cleaning apparatus 100 may include a padding material between inner surface 118 and the sheet of cleaning material. The padding material may include a layer of a sponge-like material. The padding material may be permanently affixed to inner surface 118 and the sheet of cleaning material may be removably attachable to an exposed surface of the padding material. For example, the exposed surface of the padding material may include hooks and the sheet of cleaning material may include loops. Alternatively, the exposed surface of the padding material may include loops and the sheet of cleaning material may include hooks.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of cleaning apparatus 100 in a second state, also referred to herein as a contoured state. In the example of FIG. 2 , sheet 110 includes a concave-like fold 202 to match a convex portion of a surface (not shown) against which sheet 110 is pressed.

In the example of FIG. 2 , sheet 110 is illustrated as having a single, substantially 90-degree fold. Sheet 110 is not, however, limited to a single fold or 90-degree folds. Sheet 200 may, for example and without limitation, assume multiple folds, which may include parallel folds and/or multi-dimensional contours, based on the contour of a surface against which sheet 110 is pressed, and based on properties (e.g., thickness and rigidity) of sheet 110.

In FIG. 1 , one or more edges of sheet 110 may curled, which may help sheet 110 to glide over a contoured feature and assume a contoured shape. Example are provided below with reference to FIG. 3 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus 300. Cleaning apparatus 300 includes a cleaning head 302, a handle 304, and a connector 306 to connect handle 304 to cleaning head 302. Cleaning head 302 includes a sheet 310 of a deformable material. Cleaning head 302, handle 304, and connector 306 may be configured as described with respect to cleaning head 102, handle 104, and connector 106.

In the example of FIG. 3 , sheet 310 includes curled edges 320 and 322. Curled edges 320 and 322 may help sheet 110 to glide over a contoured feature and assume a contoured shape of a surface against which cleaning head 302 is pressed.

In the examples of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 , sheets 110 and 310 have a shape of a right cylindrical shell segment when in the rest state. Methods and systems disclosed herein are not, however, limited to these examples. Another example is provided below with reference to FIG. 4 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus 400. Cleaning apparatus 400 includes a cleaning head 402, a handle 404, and a connector 406 to connect handle 404 to cleaning head 402. Cleaning head 402 includes a sheet 410 of a deformable material. Cleaning head 402, handle 404, and connector 406 may be configured as described above with respect to cleaning head 102, handle 104, and connector 306, and/or with respect to cleaning head 302, handle 304, and connector 306.

In the example of FIG. 4 , sheet 410 is illustrated in a rest state in which sheet 419 has a shape of an oblique cylindrical shell segment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus 500. Cleaning apparatus 500 includes a cleaning head 502, a handle 504, and a connector 506 to connect handle 504 to cleaning head 502. Cleaning head 502 includes a sheet 510 of a deformable material. Cleaning head 502, handle 504, and connector 506 may be configured as described in one or more examples above.

In the example of FIG. 5 , connector 506 includes a TU-type connector 526 to permit handle 506 to rotate within a plane about cleaning head 502.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a cleaning apparatus 600. Cleaning apparatus 600 includes a handle 604 and a connector 606 to connect handle 506 to a cleaning head. In the example of FIG. 6 , connector 606 includes a universal joint to permit handle 506 to rotate about multiple planes of cleaning head 502.

Methods and systems are disclosed herein with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating functions, features, and relationships thereof. At least some of the boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries may be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. While various embodiments are disclosed herein it should be understood that they are presented as examples. The scope of the claims should not be limited by any of the example embodiments disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a sheet of deformable material having a shape of a cylindrical shell segment when in a rest state; and a handle coupled to an outer surface of the sheet of deformable material to apply a physical force to the sheet of deformable material to cause the shape of the sheet of deformable material to transform to a contoured shape of a surface against which an inner surface of the sheet of deformable material is pressed.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including. a sheet of fabric removably attachable to the inner surface of the sheet of deformable material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including hook-type fasteners attached to the inner surface of the sheet of deformable material, wherein a surface of the sheet of fabric includes loop-type fasteners to releasably mate with the hook-type fasteners of the sheet of deformable material.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including. a sheet of sponge-like material attached to the inner surface of the sheet of deformable material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including: a sheet of fabric removably attachable to an exposed surface of the sheet of sponge-like material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an edge of the sheet of deformable material is curled.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet of deformable material includes first and second curled edges opposite one another.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including: a universal joint coupled between the handle and the outer surface of the sheet of deformable material.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet of deformable material has a shape of a right cylindrical shell segment when in the rest state.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet of deformable material has shape of an oblique cylindrical shell segment when in the rest state.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet of deformable material includes a plastic.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet of deformable material includes polypropylene.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet of deformable material includes low density polyethylene. 